Safety audit of ancient religious places demanded

BFDCT chairman, Rajeev Charak and vice chairman, Ishant Gupta addressing a press conference on Tuesday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 17: Bahu Fort Development Committee Trust (BFDCT) chairman, Rajeev Charak and vice chairman, Ishant Gupta here today expressed shock over the ignorance of Jammu’s ancient heritage and demanded immediate safety audit of all heritage religious places.
Reacting against the collapse of a major portion of ancient Ranbireshwar Temple, Charak said that the concerned management least bothered to do the required repairs and renovations and just collected offering and donations from the temple.
He flayed Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for having failed in conservation and preservation of cultural and historical monuments in Jammu.
“Earlier a portion of Bahu Fort had collapsed and the present management of the temple did a lot of alteration at the historical complex by raising new building which is violation of ASI guidelines and also weakens the old foundations,” Charak maintained adding: “The temples at Purmandal-Utterbehni are becoming ruins but the concerned Dharamarth Trust as well as ASI are becoming mute spectators.”
Charak appealed LG Manoj Sinha to immediately pass order and take the control of all these temples by making shrine boards for proper up-keep and better management of such shrines.
Ishant Gupta also demanded a time bound safety audit of all the temples and stern action against those who put the lives of people in danger by not keeping in view the safety of devotees.